Taking Control (Babysitting a Billionaire #3)

“I want to hit something,” he said. Actually, he wanted to hit his father, but he reckoned he’d better postpone that confrontation until he was a little calmer and a little more sober. “Do you have any suggestions?”


Half an hour later, Declan sagged against the punching bag, resting his forehead against the soft leather. They were in a room beneath the Knight Securities building, next to the shooting range where he’d made love with Jess. He was trying not to think about that. He lifted his head. His bodyguard leaned against the wall, one eyebrow raised. “You done?”

“Not nearly done. Do you know of a tattoo place open at this time?”

…

It was hardly daylight when Jess entered the Knight Security building the following morning. She’d checked his schedule and knew Jake was around and she wanted to do this before she changed her mind.

She hadn’t slept after Declan had left.

She’d lain in bed, trying to avoid thinking about him, because it hurt. Instead, she’d thought about everything else. Her parents, who had been the most wonderful people and hadn’t deserved to die. Her sister, who had very reluctantly taken her in and had been totally unprepared to deal with a damaged, hurting ten-year-old. The army, her job, her future…

And she realized something. Declan wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what he wanted. Except she knew what she didn’t want and that was to spend the rest of her life trying to be something she wasn’t. Like nice.

She’d thought the promotion was everything she wanted, but in fact it would be a combination of all the parts of the job she hated. Administration, paperwork, getting friendly with clients. It was the hands-on work she loved. Designing security systems, training the operatives, field work. She’d die of boredom stuck in an office all day.

All the same, she’d never found it easy to admit she was wrong. Even to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door and pushed it open. Jake was seated on the sofa, drinking coffee, working on his laptop.

“Can we talk?” she said.

He gestured to the seat opposite. “What is it?”

She settled herself, then jumped up, crossed to the coffee, poured one, and came back. After taking a sip, she exhaled. “I think you should give the job to Gary.”

Jake put his cup down and studied her. “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to be nice. I’ve tried it, and it really doesn’t suit me.”

His lips twitched. Then he shrugged. “Okay.”

“Okay?” She frowned. “Hey, boss, this is the moment you’re supposed to try and dissuade me. Tell me the firm needs me. That I’m better than Gary…”

“You are. But actually, I think you’re making the right decision.”

“You do.”

“You could do the job, but you’d come to hate it in the end. And you’re bright enough to realize that.”

“Aw, thanks.”

“So what will you do?”

“Hey, I worked out what I don’t want. Could you give me a little time to sort out the hard stuff?”

He nodded. “You’ll get there. Just remember what you are. It will help you decide.”

“And what am I?”

He grinned. “A fucking badass.”

…

The bouncer was a man named Pete. The same man who had guarded his room after the shooting. Declan had known him most of his life. Pete did a double take as he opened the door and then nodded as Declan walked passed, his two bodyguards close behind him.

“Are they all here?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Pete said. “They’re in your old man’s office. Just waiting for you to start the celebrations.”

Declan walked through the club. It was only eight and still quiet. That wouldn’t last for long. He didn’t bother knocking on the office door, just pushed it open. Leaving his guards outside the door, he stepped inside.

His dad sat behind the big desk, feet resting on the polished wood, legs crossed at the ankles, arms behind his head. He raised an eyebrow when he saw Declan, but didn’t make any comment.

There were four other people in the room, the whole family together. He didn’t think he’d seen his father and mother in the same room for at least five years. They dealt much better together when there was an ocean between them. There was also his sister and brother, and Penny, his ex-fiancé, who was eying him up as though he’d metamorphosed into something dangerous.

They’d never been what you would consider a functioning family unit. But he loved them. Even his bastard of a father. Even if he didn’t like him much right now—and that was a total understatement.

“Looking good, Bro,” Logan drawled, a grin curling his lips.